The stern of the Nisshin Maru - the day we found the fleet © Greenpeace/Rezac	The stern of the Nisshin Maru - still running from the Esperanza © Greenpeace/Rezac
The stern of Nisshin Maru - a bit foggy © Greenpeace/Rezac	The stern of the Nisshin Maru - a bit less foggy © Greenpeace/Rezac
The stern of the Nisshin Maru - a bit further away © Greenpeace/Rezac	The stern of the Nisshin Maru - a bit closer © Greenpeace/Rezac
The stern Nisshin Maru - at night © Greenpeace/Rezac	The stern of the Nisshin Maru - with water hoses © Greenpeace/Rezac
The bow of the Nisshin Maru - just for a change © Greenpeace/Rezac	The starboard side of the Nisshin Maru - more variety © Greenpeace/Rezac
The port side of the Nisshin Maru - with Heath adding a little local colour © Greenpeace/Rezac	The stern of the Nisshin Maru - but this time with a bird © Greenpeace/Rezac
The "shameless media photo" - stopping refuelling of the Nisshin Maru © Greenpeace/Rezac	...and finally - my personal favourite - back to the stern of the Nisshin Maru - rusty through lack of use © Greenpeace/Rezac

Yep, 14.5 days staring at the back end of a ship. In fact we got complaints from some media that we “had nothing new”. I for one was delighted that we had nothing new. Because by keeping the Nisshin Maru in sight and on the run from the whaling fleet every day for more than two weeks, not a single whale died and that is what we came here to achieve – with or without a camera.

But photography IS a powerful way to show people of what is going on in places that they cannot get to. The dramatic and horrifying images from of the first whaling expedition that Greenpeace undertook in 1975 were what started the movement to stop whaling in the first place. Photos from Vietnam prompted huge protest in the US against the war, the unknown protester facing down the tanks in Tianamen Square, famine in Ethiopia, the Amazon forest burning, ice shelves crumbling – all of these images and more have become catalysts for change. The first president of Greenpeace – Robert Hunter – talked of media “mindbombs” created by images, one of the co-founders - Rex Wyler, a photographer by trade - speaks of the emotional connection people make with a picture, long before they absorb the words.

During the 2005/2006 expedition to the Southern Ocean, Greenpeace took action AND photographs, both of which combined reminded the world of the issue of whaling and what could be done to stop it. We believe that this year the Japanese government was determined not to allow any scrutiny at all because they are fully aware of the impact those images have had on world opinion.

But that is not the driving force behind what we do – Greenpeace is a far more complex beast than only using a single tactic to fit all situations. It is founded on two principles –peaceful direct action and bearing witness. We are always prepared to take action when needed, but this year simply by being present and hounding the Nisshin Maru away from the rest of the fleet, the Japanese government was shamed into inaction. Both tactics can achieve the desired result – stopping whaling.

So where are the media mindbombs then, the emotional connections? They are already there – which is why millions of people want to see an end to whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary.

Today, there is another way by which the camera can help end whaling. Canon – the camera maker - is one of the top companies in Japan. In addition to their stated aim to protect endangered species, the CEO, Fujio Mitarai, in his capacity as head of the Japan Business Federation, has the ear of the Prime Minster of Japan and could actually DO something about it.

We don’t need you to write a thousand words to paint the picture for him, simply a few paragraphs to explode a mindbomb in Mr Mitarai’s head so he will help us end whaling in the Southern Ocean.

Can Canon save whales?